Arkansas Tech's Wonder Boys donned their football pads Thursday for the first time in 2010, the third day of spring workouts near Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field.

Arkansas Tech is coming off its best season in five years after finishing 2009 with a 9-3 overall record, a second-place finish in the Gulf South Conference (6-2) and reaching the second round of the NCAA Division II national playoffs after beating UNC-Pembroke in last November's first round.

That much seems a whole lot longer than four months ago to head coach Steve Mullins and his staff, who are faced with the daunting task of trying to replace all-American Nick Graziano (QB), who rewrote nearly every offensive record at Arkansas Tech in his lone season as a Wonder Boy; all-Americans Torrence Wright (OL), Frantz Simeon (WR) and the rest of 22 seniors who put away back-to-back 5-5 seasons in 2007 and 2008.

Mullins, coming off his 13th season with the Wonder Boys, said the Wonder Boys have a long way to go, even though they made some progress after working out on no pads Tuesday and Wednesday and no contact Thursday.

"It's real easy to look at the roster and see our experience and majority of leadershp is coming back on the defensive side of the ball," Mullins said. "In my mind, the defense is much farther along than the offense, but that's to be expected. We've lost a lot of starters and leadership, a lot of production. (The) defense should be a little bit farther along.

"After reviewing the video tape today, our hustle was good, even though we may have been going in the wrong direction, we were doing it quickly. That's fine. Hopefully, it's our job as coaches to fix that. I did like how everybody was running around and hustling today. We should be a little sore in the morning."

Arkansas Tech is allowed 15 spring practice sessions this month, which will include three scrimmages and end spring workouts with the annual Senior Bowl at 6 p.m. April 20 at Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field. The Wonder Boys' annual Green-Gold scrimmage kicks off at 10 a.m. April 17.

Tackling will be allowed and encouraged today, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday as Tech begins practice each day bright and early at 6 a.m. The Wonder Boys will have a non-tackle workout next Friday before hosting their first scrimmage at 9 a.m. April 10.

"We're trying to stress every spring, position-wise, that the depth chart is wide open," Mullins said. "Where you were last fall doesn't have a whole lot to do with where you are at in the spring. We have a lot of spots wide open. It will be exciting the next couple of weeks to see guys compete, move up and down the depth chart, who becomes our top quarterback, top receiver, running back.

"There's a lot of positions open on defense, particularly question marks with our defensive backs. We had a strong senior class from the standpooint of chemistry, effort, large numbers, so it's time to rebuild. That's what spring is all about."

The head coach and athletic director said Tech's quarterbacks have done good things in a "very controlled" environment. That should change when they practice at full speed, take the snap from center, back up and are not wearing that red no-tackle jersey.

Remaining practices

Today - 6 a.m., tackle

Monday - 6 a.m., tackle

Tuesday - 6 a.m., tackle

Thursday - 6 a.m., tackle

April 9 - 6 a.m., non-tackle

April 10 - First scrimmage, 9 a.m., Thone Stadium

April 12 - 6 a.m., non-tackle

April 13 - 6 a.m., tackle

April 15 - 6 a.m., non-tackle

April 16 - "Link It Up" Golf Tournament, Russellville Country Club

April 17 - Green and Gold game, 10 a.m., Thone Stadium

April 19 - TBA, non-contact

April 21 - Senior Bowl, 6 p.m., Thone Stadium.

"Link It Up" golf tournament April 16

Arkansas Tech University's football team will host its annual "Link It Up" four-man scramble golf tournament April 16 at Russellville Country Club. The buffet lunch opens at 11 a.m. and is followed by a noon shotgun start to the tournament. The entry fee is $100 per individual or $400 per four-man team. There will be prizes, giveaways and hole contests. Wonder Boys assistant coach and offensive coordinator Scott Preston said tournament and hole sponsorships are available.

"We are dedicated to building a first-class football program at Arkansas Tech, and this event will help us accomplish that by fostering relationships with Tech alumni and supporters and creating additional avenues to enhance revenue," Mullins said. "Here at Arkansas Tech, we want to continue to build a successful program within the Gulf South Conference, which many consider to be the SEC of (NCAA) Division II football."

Contact Preston at 968-0351 or e-mail spreston1@atu.edu, or visit the Web site athletics.atu.edu for additional information.